Huntsville gazette., 1887-09-10
A Glimpse of Decatur.
From Daily Mercury.

From Daily Mercury.
MERCURY reporter had a business
call to Decatur Yesterday and while in the
city concluded to take a peep at the
town and ascertain, If possible, what the
attraction was for so many Of Huntsville's
citizens. Sauntering up the marrow
street leading from the depot, and pass
ing several real estate offices he was
hailed with "Hello there, Huntsville,
I've buggy for you" Turning he was
greeted by our wholesouled fellow towns
man, Mr.. A. F. Murray, who has, by the
way, since his residence in Decatur,
made a reputation for being one of the
best real estate men in the State. II en-
ergy. enterprise and invigorating enthu-
siasm will accomplish anything, Decatur
will get there" with Mr.. Murray's help. !
Seated in his buggy we were driven
through the old town into the new. The |
first glance revealed stacks OF lumber |
piled around everywhere, and new /
houses in all stages of erection from /
foundation to finish. Passing Ivens' |
Foundry and Machine Shops, which is in |
full blast, and We were informed had sew |
eral orders from Huntsville for store |
fronts, etc. We drew up in front Of a
large excavation for foundation and eel I
lar OF the Grand Hotel. This is to be /
Decaturs pride. 1t fronts $50 feet on (
the main street, (up which passes the
street cars and is to be three and four
stories high, a solid Tennessee marble
front, and polished marble floor 10 offices
and rotunda.
Just back OF this building the grading /
is being done for the Union Depot, into
which will run the J.. u n. and ~ & @.
trains A little further down the L. x \. 4
road can be seen the workmen clearing
the ground for the |. K n. shops.
Opposite the Grand Hotel are to be
erected, as soon as the brick can be de-
livered, seven three story houses-one
of these will be owned by our fellow
townsman, + :. Johnson and Will cost
$1,000.
About two squares further M stands
The Tavern" another large and extra
handsome building Of go rooms, upon
which force Of 20 hands We're AT work.
This will be magnificent house when
completed and will be in charge of an
other Huntsville man, Jno. s. Reed. Mr..
Reed has resigned his position With the
land company and is now superintend~
ing the finishing touches on the house
where lie expects to feed his many
Huntsville friends in future, On the
hill back OF The Tavern" were seen
seven lots oi brick and sand 10 be used
for building seven brick dwelling houses,
one OF which is for another OF Hunts
yilles brightest citizens, Rev. Percy Cor
don.
Turning toward the river, on the road
leading to the location OF the Urbana
Car Works, we see the immense build
ing OF the Iron Bridge Works. just getr
ting under headwav This establish
ment has the contract for the iron bridge
over the Tennessee at Chattanooga, and
other contracts to the amount OF $780,,
600 on hand already. The Chemical
Works, OF which our readers have heard
often, are ready to fire up. The founda-
ton for the Blast Furnace is being laid
and will use the charcoal from the
Chemical Works.
! The works for the building OF barges
and repairing steamboats, is thing Of
the future. When established we un'
the first work will be to build a
steam tug and a steam yacht, or pleas
ure boat.
All around We see the evidences OF
and thrift. Decatur is Ger
tainly destined to become great city,
and it has now within its gates the very
mcu who can make it so.
We were informed by Mr.. Murray
that he had been buying any number OF
lots for our Huntsville men and not one
OF them had failed to make big profit.